I have used the 2.6.11-gentoo-r9 sources patched with the linux-cobalt-2.6.11.5.20050501.illogical.patch, applied all the info required in the kernel configuration, but my soft reboot doesn't seem to work. Is there something I am definately missing ?

I am currently using the 2.10.3-xfs ROM.

This option is not found : ALi M7101 PMU Computer Watchdog (CONFIG_ALIM7101_WDT)
*update* Found it, looked at the wrong options.

I have several Cobalt boxes (RAQ, RAQ3 and RAQ4) and only now have found time to work on getting them up and running. I just found this very interesting thread. (Yes, I know the RAQ is a MIPs machine so just ignore that in this posting).

Is there a HOWTO somewhere or maybe someone can give me a crib sheet?

I am not new to Gentoo - just new to Cobalts.

As a start I have flashed the boot ROM from 2.3 to 2.10 (so should have ext2/ext3 support). The new boot ROM worked (it didn't at first but then I realized that the boot parameters had been reset to netboot which was failing of course). Im planning on replacing the disk (the original Seagate 20Gb) with two larger disks in a RAID setup.

I have lots of questions, for starters:

1. Is it possible to run two IDE drives off one IDE cable in Cobalts?

2. I noticed the mobo has a empty space for another IDE connector - anyone successfully added one? (I read somewhere that this should work - Ive seen upgrade "kits" for sale).

3. Do I need to do the initial install on a regular PC or is there a way to boot a kernel and install on the RAQ itself? (I have 378Mb RAM in this RAQ4 and plan on upgrading to 512Mb). Is it possible to connect a CDROM and boot a special LiveCD?

4. Do we have to manually patch 2.6 kernels or is there a standard package in Portage now?

The new boot ROM worked (it didn't at first but then I realized that the boot parameters had been reset to netboot which was failing of course).

Gotta love that

symbiat wrote:

1. Is it possible to run two IDE drives off one IDE cable in Cobalts?

It's a normal IDE controller so it does support both master and slave devices on the same bus.

symbiat wrote:

2. I noticed the mobo has a empty space for another IDE connector - anyone successfully added one? (I read somewhere that this should work - Ive seen upgrade "kits" for sale).

Which RaQ is this? I don't remember seeing this on my RaQ 3i.

symbiat wrote:

3. Do I need to do the initial install on a regular PC or is there a way to boot a kernel and install on the RAQ itself? (I have 378Mb RAM in this RAQ4 and plan on upgrading to 512Mb). Is it possible to connect a CDROM and boot a special LiveCD?

Currently the initial install still needs to be done on a seperate system by pulling the drive(s). I've been working on a netboot install LiveCD, but continue to have problems with the NFS mounts. Each time I try I learn something that doesn't work, so it's only a matter of time until it works.

symbiat wrote:

4. Do we have to manually patch 2.6 kernels or is there a standard package in Portage now?

The kernel source still needs to be patched by hand. At some point I'm going to talk with the gentoo-sources folks to get my patch moved in.

I already checked it out (and registered) but didn't find an actual RAQ installation HOWTO... (BTW, the navigation on the site doesn't work in Safari

JeffW_ wrote:

Which RaQ is this? I don't remember seeing this on my RaQ 3i.

This is on a RAQ4 (also works for RAQ3 too apparently). The RAID kit I saw mentions this (though the link there to depopo.net doesn't work).

JeffW_ wrote:

Currently the initial install still needs to be done on a seperate system by pulling the drive(s). I've been working on a netboot install LiveCD, but continue to have problems with the NFS mounts. Each time I try I learn something that doesn't work, so it's only a matter of time until it works.

I wish I knew more about Catalyst...

JeffW_ wrote:

The kernel source still needs to be patched by hand. At some point I'm going to talk with the gentoo-sources folks to get my patch moved in.

My RAQ4 has a single 20Gb Seagate drive which appears to be wrapped in a black rubbery, prob. heatproof glove. Im guessing its to stop the circuitry on the underside of the drive touching the metal drive mount and shorting something. (Also helps to quieten the machine by damping vibration!). Here's a picture of one.

Another question: where does BlueQuartz fit into all this? Is it an alternative to the ROM or something else? Would it be useful?

Simply put, it doesn't fit in to any of what I'm doing. It's a web based server managed system based on the original Cobalt management code. Would it be useful... Depends on what you want to do with your RaQ._________________JeffWalter

My RAQ4 has a single 20Gb Seagate drive which appears to be wrapped in a black rubbery, prob. heatproof glove. Im guessing its to stop the circuitry on the underside of the drive touching the metal drive mount and shorting something. (Also helps to quieten the machine by damping vibration!). Here's a picture of one.

Does anyone know if you can buy these "sleeves"? If so, where?

I don't think you can. I think they're actually molded to the drive._________________JeffWalter

After reading jeffs site I figured I should try and install Gentoo on one othe raqs we have over here (the current stack of old cobalts is about 1.5 meters). I have installed debian on them before so I wasn't new to the install. Anyway I wrote a small howto on it which you can find here:

Together with a stage4, new kernel patch for 2.6.14, and an nfsroot tarball so you can install from the network. The stage4 hasn't been really tested so be carefull with it. Hopefully this is usefull for others.

I do have a few questions:

Anyone know how to network boot a specific kernel ?
Anyone know where to get those IDE headers that are sold in the RAID-Kit mentioned before ?

Could you please anyone help me to make use of the temperature sensor on cobalt raq 3/4?
I am looking for a script or setting to make lm_sensor find the value in /proc
Would be nice to display this info on the LCD.
Thanks a lot! Lleo_

Could you please anyone help me to make use of the temperature sensor on cobalt raq 3/4?
I am looking for a script or setting to make lm_sensor find the value in /proc
Would be nice to display this info on the LCD.

Wait, that's the kernel I built the recent patch on. Did you just grab the patch from my site, or is it one you've had for a while? Also, could you post the .config you're using?_________________JeffWalter

Last edited by JeffW_ on Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:02 pm; edited 1 time in total